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rOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

H ipla^ pageant 
3for a (5ar^en in ®ne Hct 

BY 

CONSTANCE WILCOX 

Princess Pignatelli 



Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox 
Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company 

(In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fai 
Plays for outdocrs or indoors) 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION.— Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that 
' I'old in a Chinese Garden," being fully protected under the 
copyright laws of the United States of America^ the British 
Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, asid in all countries 
of the Copyright Union, is subject ''to a 'oyalty, and anyone 
presenting the play without the consent of the author or her 
authorized agents will be liable to (he penalties by law provided. 
Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights mugt 
be made to Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. 



PRICE, 30 CENTS 



New York 

SAMUEL FRENCH 

publisher 

25 WEST 45TH STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Lm 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



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A comedy in 3 acts, by F. Tennison Jesse and H. Harwood. 4 males, 
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NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. 

A comedy in § acts. By James Montgomery. 5 males, 6 females. Cos- 
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at least Bob Bennett, the hero of "Nothing But the Truth," accomplished the 
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New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogrue Mailed Free on Request 



TOLD IN A 
CHINESE GARDEN 



PLAY PAGEANT 
FOR A GARDEN IN ONE ACT 

BY 

CONSTANCE WILCOX 

Princess Pignatelli 



Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox 
Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company 

(In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fantastic 
Plays for outdoors or indoors) 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION. — Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that 
"Told in a Chinese Garden," being fully protected under the 
copyright laws of the United States of America^ the British 
Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, and in all countries 
of the Copyright Union, is subject to a royalty, and anyone 
presenting the play without the consent of the author or her 
authorized agents will be liable to the penalties by law provided. 
Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights must 
be made to S.amuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

Publisher 
25 WEST 45th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



^i^J.O 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



"Told in a Chinese Garden" is fully protected by copy- 
right in the United States of America, the British Empire, 
including the Dominion of Canada, and all countries of 
the Copyright Union, and all rights reserved. 

In its present form this play is dedicated to the reading 
public only, and no performance, representation, production, 
recitation, public reading or radio broadcasting may be 
given except by special arrangement with Samuel French, 
25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. 

It may be presented by amateurs upon payment of a 
royalty of Five Dollars for each performance, payable to 
Samuel French one week before the date when the play is 
given. 

Professional rates quoted on application. 

Whenever the play is produced the following notice must 
appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the 
play: "Produced by special arrangement with Samuel 
French of New York." 



X(p 



AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
TO 

MY FATHER 



FIRST PRODUCED IN MADISON, CONN. 
Copy of the original program : 

Told in a Chinese Garden 

A STORY IN ONE ACT 



Characters in Order of Appearance 

Tai-Lo (a gardner on the estate of 

Wang-Chu-Mo) - - - T. Skinner 
Poa-Ting-Fang. (Guest of Wang-Chu- 
Mo) ----- G. Scranton 
Wang-Chu-Mo - - - - E. Gorden 

A page E. Wiener 

Li-Ti (daughter of Wang-Chu-Mo, 

affianced to Poa-Ting-Fang) - A. Scranton 
Ling-Tai-Tai (Governess to Li-Ti) - A. Chapin 
Lang-Tai-Tai (Governess to Li-Ti) - M. Wiener 

A Guard E. Wiener 

A Scribe C. E. Hill 

RUNNERS 
F.Dowd P. Harts C. Bigelow M.Hill E. Chapin 

UMBRELLA BOYS 
E. Butterw^orth G. Cody 

The Scene. A Chinese garden. 
Time. A Summer afternoon. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1918 



A collection will be taken for the benefit of the New- 
Haven Base Hospital for soldiers wounded in France. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN ^ 

(A Play Pageant) 

Scene. A Chinese garden. 
Time. A summer afternoon. 



CHARACTERS 

Tai-Lo, a Gardener on the estate of Wang-Chu-Mo. 
Poa-Ting-Fang, Guest of Wang-Chu-Mo. 
Wang-Chu-Mo. 

Ll-Tl, Daughter of Wang-Chu-Mo. 
Ling-Tai-Tai, Governess to Li-Ti. 
Lang-Tai-Tai, Governess to Li-Ti. 
Two Guards. 
Scribe. 

Pages, Coolie Runners and Others. 
(The Songs are all Old Chinese — and also the quota- 
tions) 

1 Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 
A Story in One Act 

r I ^AI-LO is working ivith clippers at a flower bed 

m around a goldfish pool in the center of the 

"^^ garden. He wears a peaked straw hat and 

faded blue jacket and trousers. He sings at his work. 

Tai-Lo 

'' The flower fairies bring 
Their playmate spring; 
But the spring goes 
And leaves the rose. 
She fills all hearts 
With incense and departs. 

'' The river fain would keep 

One cloud upon its breast, 

Of the twilight flocks that sweep 

Like red flamingoes fading west, 

Away, away, 

To build beyond the day. 

** Give me the green gloom of a lofty tree, 
Leaf and bough to shutter and bar 
My dream of the world that ought to be 
From the drifting ghosts of the things that are; 
3 



4 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Mine is the secret land where spring 

And sunset clouds cease wandering." 

(Poa-Ting-Fang and Wang-Chu-Mo ad- 
vance slowly down the path and into the gar- 
den. They are in gorgeous embroidered coats 
and scarlet and black hats with long tassels. 
A servant shields them from the sun with a 
bright, many-colored silk umbrella. They carry 
fans.) 

PoA 
(fVith a stately wave of his hand as they walk around 
the pool) 
As I have frequently observed, a garden is soothing to 
the eye — the flowers are like the many-colored moving 
disks of the counting board as they shine in the sun — 
I was ever fond of a garden in which to prepare my 
accounts — so warm, so undisturbed — 

Wang 
I had learned of your Excellency's preference — and 
you will find that my daughter Li-Ti — your most 
subservient wife-to-be — has the history of each flower 
at her finger tips. I have had her trained four hours 
every day in this very garden so she may be able to 
recite for your Excellency's delectation when she walks 
her honorable wifely paths in your garden. 

PoA 

Most erudite and solicitous host and father-in-law- 
to-be, the sun is no more warm on my back than your 
words in my ears. My late brother (may the Gods 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 5 

grant him peace in heaven) took delight in his garden, 
and since I have come into his house and possessions, 
I have been pleased to add new blooms, one from each 
country, and cunningly intermingled like the enamel 
on a Ming vase. It is on view Thursdays and Satur- 
days — for a mean consideration. 

(They come upon the gardener. He bows so 

low that his sun hat completely hides his face; 

and, picking up his basket, he goes to a distant 

flower bed.) 
And gardeners — I have thousands — like brown- 
legged storks — and their wages — they will pick the 
pennies from my eyelids. 

Wang 

My daughter will have much to learn in your great 
household, and I have taught her to imbibe silently, 
and speak not until there are wise words in her mouth. 
As the Sage says, " A woman with a long tongue is 
a flight of steps leading to calamity." 

POA 

(Picking a flower with a great air) 
I myself am a man of few words and many affairs. 

Wang 

Yes, again to quote : " Love of knowledge without 
the will to learn, casts the shadow called Instability. 
Love of goodness without the will to learn casts the 
shadow called Foolishness. Love — " 



6 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

POA 

Exactly, exactly. Now about the great scarlet bed 
that is part of your daughter's dowry — may I say 
that it is of an admirable richness and if there were 
silken quilts — 

Wang "• 

There — there are. They are to be carried to- 
night in the wedding procession on blue lacquered 
tables of great value — ten coolies it will take to carry 
them — and the household utensils and camphorwood 
chests — 

PoA 
{Jotting down the items in a notebook) 

Excellent, O excellent and generous, O my father- 
in-law-to-be. It is indeed fortunate that a propitious 
omen is about to bring our two great houses together. 
I would welcome your daughter were she as sharp as 
the vicious Aunt East Wind — which I am sure she is 
not. 

Wang 

My daughter is far from ill-favored. But as one 
has said, " Beauty without the will to — " 

PoA 
It does not matter. It is of an insignificance. I 
remember too, ** Admirable is the wise woman, but she 
is an owl." As befitting a man of affairs my wife and 
I will meet but seldom, and as you say she has the 
gift of silence. How does the verse go? 

" The wise man's wisdom is our strength, 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 7 

The woman's wisdom is our bane. 
The men build up the city walls 
For women to tear down again." 

Wang 

It rests my ears to hear that you are fond of poetry. 
Do you know — 

POA 

Ah, I remember the sequence, 

" No man from any woman's wit 
Hath yet learned aught of any worth, 
For wise is she, but unto ill, 
To bring disorder on the earth. 
What does she in affairs of state? 
Her place is in the inner room. 
Her wisdom doth least hurt in this. 
To mind the silkworm and the loom." 

But enough of the arts. Were there not perhaps 
screens ? 

Wang 

Of purple colored teakwood, set with silver and 
ivory, and hangings of orange brocade hand painted 
with dragons. 

PoA 

A good omen — a good omen. 

(They go off slowly talking.) 
(A little boy in livery enters running. He 
peers about the garden and runs back to hold 
aside the shrubbery for a gilded, canopied chair 



8 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

carried by coolies. In the chair is Ll-Tl, her 
scarlet and gold gown stiff with embroidery, 
and her hair elaborately dressed and twisted 
with strings of jade and pearl. Long earrings 
frame a lovely, expressionless face, white with 
powder and vividly carmine on cheeks and lips. 
Her eyes are heavily black and droop wearily. 
She carries a peacock feather fan with a mirror 
in the handle. Behind the chair walk the two 
elderly governesses in drab-colored gowns as 
unprepossessing as their sharp yellowed faces. 
They carry rolls of manuscript and a servant 
behind holds a bright umbrella over them.) 

The Boy 
The garden is empty, Celestialness; only an under- 
gardener is here. 

Li-Ti 
{Peering out) 
My father and Poa-Ting-Fang were just walking 
through the paths. I wish I might catch a glimpse of 
them. 

Ling-Tai-Tai 
It is not seemly. 

Lang-Tai-Tai 
It is not in comportment. It is curiosity! 

{The little procession advances slowly around 
the pool.) 

Lang 
The five worst infirmities that afflict the female arc 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 9 

indocility, discontent, slander, jealousy and silliness. 
The worst of all and the parent of the other five is 
silliness. Your desire to see your honorable husband- 
to-be is silliness. 

Ling 
Leave on the knees of the Gods the joy of your first 
sight of him. It comes soon enough. 

{The bearers set down the chair.) 

Li-Ti 

I have heard that he is old, and that he poisoned his 
brother so that he could take his estates, and that his 
brother's heir ran away from him. 

Ling 

It is incredible that I hear these words in your mouth 
after our teaching. 

Lang 

Some sprouts do not blossom, some blossoms bear no 
seed. You are a stranger to us. 

Li-Ti 
{She descends from her chair. She is very small and 
sways on her bound feet) 
I am not myself. I am so soon to be some one 
else — the wife of a man that is old and greedy. I 
will drink only his will, and eat only his thoughts — 
he who I know poisoned his brother for money. 

{The bearers arrange a low stool for Ll-Tl 
and the little boy holds an umbrella over her. 
The governesses take their place standing in 



lo TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

front of her and unroll their long yellow scrolls. 
They also have a boy to hold their umbrella. 
The bearers take off the chair.) 

Ling 

Servants' chatter. Only girls and servants are hard 
to train. Draw near to them and they grow unruly; 
hold them off and they pay you with spite. 

Lang 
Remember that thou art young. What thou dost 
know is not to be compared with what thou dost not 
know. 

Li-Ti 

It is common talk. Why then did his brother's only 
son and heir run away? 

Ling 

Because he was a worthless ne'er-do-well and shame- 
lessly preferred the freedom, as he called it, of vaga- 
bondage, to the honorable responsibility of his father's 
estate. That is common talk also. 

Li-Ti 

Very like he did not care for the responsibility of 
such an uncle. 

Lang 

It ill fits your mouth to speak thus. If the shiftless 
Fang-Tai were to return and claim his lands before the 
allotted time when they legally belong to his uncle, 
you would not have a round penny as a wife. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN ii 

Li-Ti 

Then my father would not have me be a wife at all. 
That would be pleasing. 

Ling 
Undutiful girl! Let us go to our lessons. 

(They unroll the long strips of parchment.) 

Lang 
Your parent has instructed us to impart one more 
lesson in the histories of the flowers before you go to 
your husband to delight him with your knowledge. 
Recite, I pray you, the complete ancestry of the mari- 
gold. 

Li-Ti 

{In a singsong) 
Fathered first by our lord the Sun, whose sevenfold 
beams falling on the plant wove into curling petals, 
and then the sweet West Wind in passing from the 
bazaars of the great spice grove scattered in a pinch of 
— of — cinnamon — 

Ling 
Fie, fie — a pinch of musk. 

Li-Ti 
A pinch of musk, and Ku-Wu the bee with the 
golden stripes fashioned for it in the heart of the 
flower a pouch of tiny petals — so now — so now — 
Will Poa-Ting-Fang, my future husband, be angry 
with me? I have forgotten what comes next. 



12 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Ling 
He will rap the tips of your fingers and leave you 
alone in the pavilion. *' So now the musk — " 

Li-Ti 
I do not know. Let us go to the gilly-flower. That 
is not so hard. 

Ling 
Fie! What is it the great Sage says about those 
who take the easy path? 

Li-Ti 
" The stones will be slippery and they will twist 
their feet." 

Lang 
So now the musk — 

{A runner enters who goes to the governesses.) 

Runner 

The Lord Wang-Chu would confer with you in 
the inner courtyard on a matter of immediate im- 
portance. 

Lang 

We come at once. 

Ling 

{Thrusting a parchment into Ll-Tl's hands) 
We return anon. Waste not the moments we are 
gone. 

Lang 
Listen not idly to the drone of the bees, or the 
dragonflies will sew up your ears. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 13 

Ling 
The list of the flowers is there. Read it well, and 
remember each in its place. 

Lang 
And there is the song of the willow flowers for the 
lute. Last time the notes sounded like a mouse on the 
strings. 

(Ling and Lang go out with the runner and 
their umbrella man. The gardener crosses and 
begins work on the beds about the pool.) 

Li-Ti 

{In a very small voice as she strums her lute) 

" O willow flowers like flakes of snow, 

Where do your wandering legions go? 

Little we care and less we know ! 

Our ways are the ways of the wind — 

Our life in the whirl, and death in the drifts below." 

{She turns to her little umbrella boy, who 
stands patiently first on one leg and then on the 
other,) 
You twist so that your shadow flickers like a moth 

in the grass and drives the cadence out of my head. 

Go over there and rest — I do not mind the sun on 

my head. 

{He marches over to a far corner, and curling 
up on the ground under his umbrella promptly 
falls asleep.) 



14 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 
(Running a finger through her eyelashes) 
It is not seemly that he should see tears. {She 
takes up the parchment.) The green verbena is the 
herb that the willow nymph tried to crush into tea for 
her lover, and the fragrance of her hands — the frag- 
rance of her hands — {She buries her face in her 
hands. ) 

Tai 

{Humming at his clipping) 

" Prone beside the Western stream, 
In the lilied dusk I dream. 
And mocking me the wind of spring 
Such medley of perfume doth bring, 
I cannot tell what fragrance blows. 
Nor guess the lotus from the rose." 

Li-Ti 

{Standing up and looking across the flower beds) 
Who is it sings when I wish to be sad? 

Tai 
It is I — Tai-Lo, the gardener. 

Li-Ti 

You are the gardener? Approach. 



(Tai-Lo comes before her, basket on arm and bo%vs 
I on/,) 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 15 

Li-Ti 

Why do you have so many different kinds of flowers 
in the garden? 

Tai 

So they will bloom as varied and bright as the hem 
of your celestial skirt that brushes them as you pass. 

Li-Ti 
I v^^ould have all one kind — all gillyflowers. 

Tai 

The garden would be a desert — brown and yellow 
— deadening to the eye. 

Li-Ti 

I would like it. There would be less to learn. 

Tai 

You know the flower lore and yet would have the 
heart to turn them out of their homes? 

Li-Ti 
Horrid, stiff, prickly things! Take them up and 
put in gillyflowers! 



(Tai-Lo kneels with his trowel and puts one or two 
plants in his basket.) 

Li-Ti 

{As she watches hinij she strums carelessly on her lute) 



i6 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

" Through the green blinds that shelter me, 

Two butterflies at play, 

Four wings of flame whirl joyously 

Around me and away, 

While swallows breasting to the shore 

Ripple the waves they wander o'er. 

And I that scan the distant view, 

Of torn white clouds and mountains blue — 

Tai 

(Finishing it for her) 
Lift to the north my aching eyes — 
'Tis there — 'Tis there the city lies — 
Chang — An arise! Arise!" 

Li-Ti 
You know that, too? 

Tai 

I am an exile. I know another wanderer song that 
might please you. (He takes the lute.) 

" I was a child in Yung- Yang, 
A little child I waved farewell, 
After long years I dwell again 
In world forgotten Yung- Yang. 
Yet I recall my playtime, 
And in my dreams I see 
The little ghosts of Maytime 
Waving farewell to me. 

" My father's house in Yung- Yang 
Has fallen upon evil days, 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 17 

No kinsmen o'er the crooked ways 
Hail me as once In Yung- Yang. 
No longer stands the old Moot hall, 
Gone is the market from the town. 
The very hills have tumbled down, 
And stoned the valleys in their fall. 
Yet I recall my playtime. 
And in my dreams I see 
The little ghosts of May time, 
Waving farewell to me." 

Li-Ti 
Do flowers have ghosts? 

Tai 

{Returning to his work) 
Yes they are people. Poor little mangold lady! 
{He holds up an uprooted plant,) She holds the lan- 
terns of the garden. When the nights are dark she 
lights up the thick green jungle so the katydids can 
dance. 

Li-Ti 
{She consults her paper) 
That is not what I learned about the marigold. It 
is much prettier. 

Tai 
Ah, what you know, my lady, is the allegorical an- 
cestry, very befitting one of your quality. But this is 
the true story of the flowers that the fairies prick on 
the leaves. And the golden cup that the dew king fills 
for the moon fairies. They will go thirsty after their 
dance to-night. 



i8 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 
You need not pull up so many. What is the little 
white flower by your foot? 

Tai 

They are the slippers of the firefly elves left out to 
dry in the sun, but you mustn't tell any one. 

Li-Ti 
And those tall green ones over there? 

Tai 

Hush! Mandarins — see their green caps? 

Li-Ti 

And how solemnly they nod their heads! 

Tai 
And how the bees fly in and out telling them state 
secrets. 

Li-Ti 

h-ow dear and funny! (She peers over towards 
the high flowers.) I wonder if the bees' wings tickle 
their ears — they buzz so — I wonder how it feels to 
have a bee tell you secrets. 

Tai 

( Gravely ) 

1 can show you. This is the way. {He kisses her 
behind her fan.) Are you angry, celestial lady? 

Li-Ti 

No — o. It must be rather nice to be a flower. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 19 

Tai 
You are one. 

Li-Ti 

I consider you only as a bee — in the garden. 

Tai 

A poor sort of vagabond, accountable to no one — 
flying in and out — not ever staying long enough to 
care — or have any one care — 

Li-Ti 
You shall stay and tell me funny stories. 

Tai 

All my poor little bee secrets are yours, lady. 

Li-Ti 

And sing songs about — Yung-Yang. O, I wish I 
had known there was a bee in the garden before ! 

Tai 

The bee saw the flower over the wall. 

Li-Ti 

Oh — I should not have been chattering and be- 
having in this unseemly fashion. Here come my hon- 
orable governesses. They will be so displeased if I 
am not occupied in a fitting manner. Go and send 
over the umbrella boy. I hope I have not faded in 
the sun. {She takes up her lute. The umbrella boy 
returns to stand over her. Tai-Lo goes back to his 
work.) 



20 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

" O willow flowers like flakes of snow, 
Where do your wandering legions go? 
Little we care and less we know — " 

(She breaks off in a suppressed giggle that turns 
into a grave courtesy as the governesses hurry 
up. They are out of breath and excited.) 

Ling 

The unheard of has occurred! 

Lang 

O most unfortunate of girls! 

Ling 

The house of Mo can never smile again ! 

Li-Ti 

What is the matter? In what have I offended? 

Ling 
Not you. It is that the great Poa-Ting-Fang, your 
future husband-to-be, while walking in this very gar- 
den — O wretched landscape — has lost his emerald 
ring! 

Lang 
It is of the honorable size of a pigeon's egg, and 
worth the price of a thousand silver mines. 

Ling 

More valuable than all your dowry. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 21 

Lang 

It holds in its secret chamber the seal of his house 
cut from the tomb of his first ancestor — 

Ling 

Never has one of his house been without it! 

Lang 
And it slipped from his august finger while he picked 
those miserable flowers! 

Ling 

But that is not the most calamitous! He vows he 
will depart in anger — that he will never look upon 
your face — if his ring is not returned. It is an ill 
omen and the two houses cannot come together un- 
der it. 

Lang 

The garden must be searched to the very seeds, or 
you will be scorned as a bride and the world will 
laugh at our rejected house! 

Li-Ti 
It does not appal me — that he will not marry me. 

Lang 

In this garden it vanished — the ring worth sixty 
diamond mines! It was to be a signet of your mar- 
riage. How can he overlook the omen of its loss? 

Ling 
Who has seen it? Who? Who? 



22 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 
There has been no one here but ourselves — and the 
gardener. 

Lang 
That is it. O merciful heaven that has delivered 
him into our hands. (They approach Tai-Lo who 
bows. Ll-Tl wanders about looking in the beds.) 

Ling 

- Your name? 

Tai 

Tai-Lo. 

Lang 
How long have you been here, and why did you 
come? 

Tai 
I have been gardener among your honorable flowers 
for twice seven days. 

(Ll-Ti stops to pick up something that glitters 
as she turns it in her hand.) 



And before? 




Tai 


I wandered. 




Lang 


Ah! 




Ling 


And your reason 


for 


coming? 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 23 

Tai 
{Watching Ll-Tl as she stands in the sunlight) 
I liked the flowers in your garden. 

Ling 
And you found them what you expected? 

Tai 
Better, excellencies. {He bows.) 

{With a furtive motion Ll-Tl crouches down 
and buries what she has found deep in the soft 
earth Tai-Lo spaded up.) 

Ling 
Enough! Seize him! 

Lang 
"A flaw can be ground from a scepter white — 
A slip of the tongue no man right." 

Ling 

I 'iv^ satisfied. "Unruly when young — unmen- 
tioned as man, undying when old — spells good-for- 
nothing." 

Li-Ti 

{Coniing betwee?i them) 
No! 

Lang 

Your chair waits. In a moment your honorable 
father and the wronged Ting-Fang will be here to 
search the garden — and the gardener. 



24 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 

Untie him. He has not seen the ring. 

Ling 
We shall see — 

Lang 

What we shall see. 

Tai 

There are ways of proving that I have not the ring. 

Li-Ti 

(She has ascended her chair. She twists her hands 
nervously) 
I — I — (She looks at Tai.) I will see that you 
are not found guilty. 

Tai 
Graciousness ! ** Richer the silver of your voice 
than in the hollow pojols that make moonlight about 
your ankles." 

Ling 
" Honeyed words confound goodness." 

Lang 

" The vulgar always gloss their faults." 

Ling 
Forward ! 

(The bearers carry off the chair, followed by 
the governesses under their umbrella. A man 
stays to guard Tai-Lo.) 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 25 

Man 

Where did you hide it? 

Tai 

What? 

Man 
The ring. 

Tai 
I have not seen it. 

Man 
I will take it safely out of the garden and we will 
go shares. 

Tai 
I tell you I have not seen it. It is fortunate for your 
master that I am gardener here instead of you. 

Man 
Do you think I can believe you such a fool that you 
were working here on the very bed under his foot when 
the ring slipped from his finger and did not put your 
hand over it? Bah ! Tell me where it is or I'll swear 
I saw you swallow it! 

Tai 
The only kind of fool I am not, is to tell anything 
to such a dirty knave as you. 

Man 
(Imperturbably) 
Everything you say will be used against you. 



26 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Tai 
I have no doubt. " Trees are more upright than 
men." 

Man 
" Money makes a blind man see." 

(Wang-Chu-Mo a7id Poa-Ting-Fang, under 
their umbrellas, come into the garden. They 
are followed by servants with rakes,) 

Wang 

{Directing the men) 
Barely touch the surface of the earth — the slightest 
scratch may bury the ring beneath It as you work. And 
remember: you are held responsible if we fail. Oh, 
my honorable guest — and son-in-law that I hope you 
shall still be — would I could heap the unworthy dust 
of this garden on my head In apology. 

Fang 
It is Indeed a calamity of unmitigated enormity. 
My ancestral jewel is of the size of a pigeon's egg and 
of the value of a thousand silver mines. {He consults 
notebook.) Whereas your daughter's dowry, I regret 
to say, does not possess Its equivalent. 

Wang 

Its equivalent shall be found. Where is the gar- 
dener Lang-Tai-Tai told me of? 

Tai-Lo 
Here. 

(Tai-Lo and Poa-Ting-Fang stare at each 
other.) 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 27 

Wang 

wretched stork, what have you filched with your 
beak! 

POA 

1 would question this man — alone. 

(Wang goes off, fussily directing the men who 
scratch the flower beds with their rakes.) 

PoA 

Fang-Tai ! 

Tai 

My estimable uncle! 

PoA 

What are you doing here ? 

Tai 

I might better ask the same — what are you doing 
here — in my father's coat, and wearing — or, rather, 
being very careless, with my father's signet ring — 
while I, my father's heir, am still in a position to claim 
them? But I fear the question might Inconvenience 
you — 

PoA 
Very unsuitable. 

Tai 
We will let It pass since It Is of my own free will 
that I wander. Be benign enough to assure these peo- 
ple that I am no thief and I say nothing. 



28 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

POA 

And how long do you continue saying nothing? 

Tai 
As long as my good pleasure and your good be- 
havior. 

PoA 

Am I to be at the beck and call and in constant fear 
of a paltry vagabond? Oh, my high-bred sensibilities! 
I shudder to my finger tips! 

Tai 

Most unsuitable of you, dear uncle. When my 
father died I chose some years of freedom to wander 
through the by-roads unhampered — and left you the 
freedom and the care of the estate. It was my favor 
that gave you these honors. It is not my fault if you 
assume too much — take too much — and force me to 
return. 

PoA 

That was why you stole the ring — so that you 
could prove your estate instantly! 

Tai 

Your morals, my uncle, are odd. I take no such 
method. 

PoA 
Bah ! Hypocrisy ! 

Tai 
I have seen that which makes me think I shall return 
in any case. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 29 

POA 

Am I to give up my position — my hard-fought gains 
— my improvements won by the sweat of my toil and 
the clink of my gold — 

Tai 
My gold. 

PoA 

To give place to you — you — a vagabond squan- 
derer — a shiftless pleasure lover — who would waste 
and change and turn me into the laughing stock of 
the country? 

Tai 

No doubt. 

PoA 

It is unthinkable — that /, — I should have to give 
way to a beardless ne'er-do-well. It is a thousand 
deaths! And I would give a thousand rings to have 
you dead, scourge of the worthy! 

Tai 

No doubt. 

POA 

You mock me — will you — monkey -eared frog — 
you — 

Tai 
Tell these people that I am no thief, and have done. 

POA 

They would not believe it. 



30 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Tai 

I have around my neck the amulet, the duplicate 
of the sacred amulet in my father's ring. They will 
believe Tai-Fang. 

PoA 
You cannot prove a grain of it. The amulet of a 
ragged gardener. It might be any stone. 

Tai 

The ring will be found and it fits there. 

POA 

I will throw the ring into the river before it is 
opened. I will grind it under my heel — 

Tai 

" The chase of gain is rich in hate — " My uncle, 
do you think there is a man on our estate who would 
not know me? 

POA 

But here — here they do not, and the word of a 
vagrant servant is the wind in the grass — empty. 
Whether the ring is found or not, I will say you con- 
fessed to stealing it. They will only be too eager to 
string you on the nearest branch to appease me. And 
what is one dead gardener more or less? By the sacred 
Gods that guard the cornice of our house, I will do 
it — unless you swear to go and never molest me again. 
You swear? 

Tax 

I do not. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 31 

POA 

There will be trial and court in this very garden and 
you will be hung. 

Tai 

If it happens that I am not it will fare hard with 
you. Hbw well I see now that *' Gold is tested by 
fire and man by gold." 

PoA 
You will never go out of that gate unless, when the 
rope is about your neck, you promise me on the grave 
of your ancestors — 

Tai 

You old thief! I'll see you strangled first! {He 
tries to free his hands.) 

PoA 

{Calling) 
My honorable father-in-law. This man is violent! 
(Wang hurries up.) 

Wang 

He confesses? 

POA 

To having disposed of the ring. My astute ques- 
tioning — 

Tai 
I do not. 

Wang 
Peace! Lest your tongue burn in your mouth. 



32 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

POA 

My intricate insinuations and subtle probes have 
brought the taste of guilt to his trembling mouth. 

Tai 
' You lie ! My Lord Wang, if you know — 

Wang 

{Angrily) 
I am about to know. 

POA 

He admits to having taken the jewel but as to 
where he has hid it, he has the cunning and secrecy of 
the weasel. 

Wang 
We will discover at once. O that I should have 
nourished such a viper in my garden! 

POA 

Eating your bread and lining his unworthy pockets 
with your silver. My unhappy friend, I indeed grieve 
for you. 

Wang 

It can be crushed out. Tread on the snake's head, 
and he will not bite. 

PoA 
I truly believe that nothing would give me greater 
happiness than to see your garden spot cleared of all 
evil. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 33 

Wang 

O most felicitous and generous guest ! Truly " to 
rank the effort above the prize may be called Love." 
It shall be cleared of Evil — 

Tai 

One moment. 

Wang 

Your time to speak shall come. 

Poa 
He should have only one moment. I am sincerely 
convinced that such is my friendship for you that im- 
mediate removal of this rascal — since he has in part 
confessed — w^ould greatly tend to smooth my pride in 
the matter of the ring — and my feeling towards your 
daughter — 

Wang 
We wall hold a court at once. 

Poa 
Is that necessary, in a case of such confessed guilt ? 

Wang 
{Pompously) 
" When not in office I discuss not policy." I per- 
form no deed that is not strictly in accordance with the 
mandates of the law — " Gentlemen cherish worth ; the 
vulgar cherish dirt. Gentlemen trust in justice; the 
vulgar trust in favor," says Confucius. But this will 
be very summary — just a few ceremonies in this gar- 
den — we will not disturb the festivities outside. 



34 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

POA 

Most laudable Intention. But no strangers I pray 

— no fuss — no scandal ; of all things I deplore scan- 
dal — and were there outsiders I would feel it my 
painful duty to explain — my emerald seal — 

Wang 

No one but ourselves — and the men In this garden 

— to act also as executioners In case — 

POA 

Exactly and excellently planned. Worthy father- 
in-law, your scheme Is as neat as a snail in Its shell. 

Tai 

I claim the right to defendants. 

Wang 

{Pointing to the two guards) 
These can be your defendants. They are your fel- 
low servants and know the most about you here. 

PoA 

Precise as a crab In Its skin. 

Tai 

.Some one from my own province — 

Poa 

Question not your master's generosity, wretched fel- 
low. Your past Is best buried In obscurity. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 35 

Wang 

Unhappy man, the crime was committed here. 
Who more fitting than these witnesses? 

POA 

My father-in-law, the tea-leaf eyelids of the Sages 
would quiver at your perfect comprehension and jus- 
tice. 

Tai 

You will regret this. 

PoA 
Very like. I am tender-hearted and ever hate to 
witness suffering. 

Wang • 

I depart to seek the law books. " To foster right 
among the people — to honor the ghosts of the dead 
while keeping aloof from them may be called Wisdom." 

PoA 
For a theft of over a thousand gold pieces it is hang- 
ing, is it not? My ring was worth twenty thousand. 

Wang 
That is the penalty. 

PoA 

And that this should defile your garden! In my 
grief for you I feel sorrow and desire for my ring 
passing away. Is it not dangerous to leave these men 
with the prisoner? He might confer falsely or even 
divulge the hiding place of the ring, and they escape. 



36 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Wang 

True. Is he well tied ? 

Guard 
Perfectly. (Tai-Lo is roped hand and foot.) 

Wang 

He Is as safe there as a clipped sparrow, and we will 
guard the gates. Come, men, you will be allowed to 
confer with the prisoner for his defense under our 
eyes. Ah, if all would hark to the words of the Sage 
— " Living on coarse rice and water with a bent arm 
for pillow, mirth may be ours, but ill-begotten wealth 
and honors^are to me a wandering cloud." 

Poa 

We are not all born with the righteousness of Con- 
fucius In our breath as you are, my esteemed father-in- 
law-to-be. 

{They walk out slowly) 

Guard 
{In Tai-Lo's ear) 
Tell me where it Is — that ring — 

Tai 

You knave! 

Guard 

Remember then — by Kong-Fu-Tsu, I'll say you 
swallowed it, and then — {He makes the motion of 
ripping open Tai's body with a knife.) It is not 
pleasant even with a sharp knife — and I doubt if they 
wait to hang you first. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 37 

Wang 

(Callinff) 
Come here, you loiterers ! 

Guard 
I was but tightening the ropes. 

(The Guards ^0 out.y 
(Ll-Tl enters on tip-toe. She sways, and ad- 
vances very slowly. Suddenly, very swiftly, 
she stoops and feels in a flower bed. Tai-Lo 
whistles a little tune.) 

Li-Ti 

{Her hands behind her) 
You are spying on me! Oh! 

Tai 

If you move your celestial path to another circle, I 
cannot see you. 

Li-Ti 
Oh, poor gardener — you are bound ! Does it hurt ! 

Tai 

A little, but not so much as that you should see me so. 

Li-Ti 
You do look funny! Ah, I did not mean that — I 
will see that you are unbound. I want to hear you 
talk again. I hate to see you so. Can't you move? 

Tai 

My position is honorably uncomfortable. Your 



38 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

august father is pleased to accuse me of taking your 
estimable husband-to-be's ring. 

Li-Ti 
But you did not. They were estimably In the 
wrong. 

Tai 

You believe I did not steal? Your words are as 
sweet as the song of the Fung-Noang, the wonder- 
birds. 

Li-Ti 

Would it free you if the ring were found? If the 
emerald the size of a pigeon's egg and the value of 
sixty pagodas of pearl were to be spaded up in this 
flower-bed ? 

Tai 

I am afraid not. 

Li-Ti 
It would not matter? 

Tai 

You are pleased? 

Li-Ti 

Oh, it is only a little matter — something to do with 
myself, and not at all important as your troubles are. 
It is only that if the ring were not found, I heard It 
said that Poa-TIng-Fang — my husband-to-be — would 
look upon me with frowning, and not take me to his 
house, but go away. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 39 

Tai 
You do not want to marry him? 

Li-Ti 

I have heard that he is old and ugly and stupid, and 
likes dry things to learn by rote instead of — of know- 
ing nice pretty flower stories such as — 

Tai 

As I know? 

Li-Ti 
Yes. But I must not take up all the time with this 
idle chatter of my affairs. There must be found a 
way to free you and then the ring will never be found. 
Oh, I would stamp it to pieces myself rather than that, 
and I would never have to learn any more stupid lists 
for Ting-Fang — only funny flower stories here in the 
garden with you, and we w^ould be so happy and care- 
free. Wouldn't we ? 

Tai 
It would be as a thousand springtimes. I wish it 
were possible. 

Li-Ti 
Why not? 

Tai 
You yourself have poured water on the last spark 
of hope. 

Li-Ti 
You think the ring could free you after all? 

Tai 
If anything. But speak not of that. 



40 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 
I must {in a very faint voice) ; and the ring shall 
be found. 

Tai 
I hope not, for your honorable sake. You will stay- 
in the garden and talk to the bright lilies, and all the 
wicked lacquered goblins on the cornice of the house of 
Ting-Fang shall wriggle their fire-colored tongues in 
vain, for they shall not have you to eat. 

Li-Ti 
But I should not like it if you were not here. 

Tai 

You think so? To-night even in the great citron 
light of sunset when the Three Councillors open their 
cold bright eyes in the Northern sky, you will have 
forgotten. 

Li-Ti 

No! Your ghost would come to me. 

Tai 

Do not fear for me. " Those who have not tasted 
the bitterest of Life's bitters can never appreciate the 
sweetest of Life's sweets." And even if the emerald 
should be found growing like a celestial magic leaf upon 
these flower stems, there are those to say I hid it, and 
that is theft confessed. 

Li-Ti 

But if some one else were to say he took it? 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 41 

Tai 

jewel In the lotus, do you think others wait to 
hang in my stead ? 

Li-Ti 

{Slowly) 

1 could not live, and think that I had harmed you. 

Tai 
That Is very kind. 

Li-Ti 

You do not believe me? It Is true! ^ 

Tai 

Did you not just say, Almond Flower, that it was 
your happiness for the ring not to be found? That 
is proof. 

Li-Ti 
When I think of going with that dreadful old man, 
it is like holding my hand in a crab's tooth. But a 
way will be found to free you. It must. 

Tai 

To argue with you, little one, is like throwing water 
in a frog's face. 

Li-Ti 
Oh, you are so funny! Have I a face like a frog? 

Tai 

More like a lotus petal. 



42 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Li-Ti 
Ah, I cannot bear it ! I must tell you — it is a 
secret — 

Tai 
Tell me. The dead have no tongues to wag. 

Li-Ti 
Don't say it! Tai-Lo, you are not going to diel 

Tai 

That is nonsense. What is your secret ? 

Li-Ti 
#It is that I — Oh, I dare not — I cannot — {She 
hides her face behind her fan.) 

Tai 

Your esteemed father and his honorable guest your 
husband-to-be are approaching. It would not be 
seemly that they find you in converse with a prisoner. 

Li-Ti 
{Looking up steadily over her fan) 
Good-by. Tai-Lo. 

Tai 
Good-by. 

(Ll-Tl vanishes in the hushes.) 
(Wanc-Chu-Mo and Poa-Ting-Fang enter, 
followed by servants bearing two high gilded 
chairs. Two others carry parasols, and an- 
other books, papers, and a long quill pen. One 
man has a heavy rope slung over his arm. At 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 43 

a reasonable distance the two governesses follow, 
whispering importantly under their umbrella. 
The bearers put down the chairs and Wang 
and PoA ascends them, the umbrellas being 
held over their heads. A scribe sits cross- 
legged at their feet, with his materials spread 
before him. The governesses stand behind 
Wang's chair, and the servants in a row be- 
hind Poa's. Wang motions for Tai-Lo to be 
unbound. He comes to stand in front of the 
chairs. ) 

Wang 
{Reading from a book) 
" To leave untaught and then kill is cruelty ; to ask 
full tale without warning is tyranny. To give care- 
less orders and be strict when the day comes Is rob- 
bery; to be stingy in rewarding men is littleness." 
Court is open. This man is accused of a theft sur- 
passing the mark of ten thousand gold pieces. I be- 
ing judge of this province may acquit him, or find him 
guilty. If he is found guilty, he may be hanged. 

POA 

{Fanning himself) 
Most suitable, most suitable. 

Wang 

Who stands against this man? 

POA 

{Rising) 
I do. 



44 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

{Several of the servants bow, and the gov- 
ernesses come forward timidly.) 

Wang 
{Speaking to the Scribe) 
Put down the names. 

PoA 

Of us all — 

Wang 
Yes, all except those two. {He points to the two 
guards of Tai-Lo.) They are to speak for the 
prisoner. 

PoA 
{Coldly) 
Ah, those. {He leans over to them.) Merely tech- 
nical, my men, I assure you. There will be no pen- 
alty attached for you if your — ah — client — is found 
guilty. 

Tai 
I will speak for myself. 

Guard 

{In his ear) 
And what have you to say to me? 

Tai 
That you can go to the devil. 

{The guard whispers vindictively.) 

Tai 

You blackguard! {He falls on the man, half knock- 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 45 

ing him down, and is pulled back by the other guard. 
Wang and Poa both rise. The governesses scream.) 

Wang 

{Shrilly) 
Stop It there! How dare you, vagrant beetle that 
you are, interrupt and insult the honor of the court 
before my eyes! Oh, lamentable viciousness! 

Poa 
Scandalous ! 

Wang 

{Sinking back in his chair, the guards having pulled 

Tai-Lao back) 

An execrable beginning. 

Poa 

Contemptible. To maul his very fellow defendant! 

Tai 

It is not as you think, Lord Wang; if you will hear 
me, this man — 

Poa 
Out of order. {Fanning.) Tales, tales. 

Wang 

Out of order, certainly! and there is nothing to 
excuse your incredible actions. " The people are the 
root of a country, if the root is firm, the country will 
be tranquil; if the root is rotten, the country breaks 
like a house with a cracked floor." 



46 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Guard 
I refuse to answer for this man. I want to accuse 
him — 

POA 

Very proper spirit, very proper. 

Guard 
I can tell you — 

Wang 

All in appropriate time. Put his name down there. 
{He raps sharply on the arm of his chair with his fan.) 
Proceed! We will omit the formalities and come to 
the accusations. 

Scribe 
{Reading from his papers in a high singsong) 
The gardener, Tai-Lo, is accused of theft in the 
third degree of — 

Poa 
Time presses. 

Wang 
Come to the list of evidence. 

Scribe 
First: He was known to be alone in the garden 
when the great and honorable Lord Poa-Ting-Fang lost 
his most precious emerald ring — clear as the sunset 
after rain — of the size of a pigeon's egg — and the 
value of ten thousand silver mines. He was seen to 
work under the very feet of the great Poa-Ting-Fang 
as the ring slipped from his finger — 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 47 

Tai 

If he knew when It fell, why did he not pick it up ? 

Wang 

Again, silence. 

POA 

Note that down — if he knew — if he knew. 
{Making a note in his book.) 

Scribe 

Second: He confessed openly to have been a wan- 
dering beggar and questionable character before his 
entering as a gardener only a few days before the 
notable Poa-Ting-Fang was due for a visit, and he 
admitted in the access of his unworthy triumph that he 
had found the gleanings of the garden even more than 
he had expected. 

Ling 

That we found out — 

Lang 
He admitted it to us. 

PoA 
Most admirable example of female intelligence! 

Ling 
( To Lang, as they settle back) 
'* A man thinks he knows, but a woman knows 
better." 

Scribe 
Third : The guilty one is known to have confessed 



48 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

to taking the ring — into the august ear of Poa-Ting- 
Fang himself. 

POA 

Is that not sufficient? 

Scribe 
Though, being as a weasel in his ways, he will not 
confess where he has hid away the jewel. {He rolls 
up his paper, and sits down.) 

Tai 

Poa-Ting-Fang has made my confession incomplete 
because he does not know any more than I do where 
the ring is. 

POA 

Does the court permit this slander on my person? 

Wang 

We will hear the man though his ridiculous insinua- 
tions are hardly worth the attentions of our august ear. 
" But he who contains himself goes seldom wrong," 
says the wise man. We will listen though it be wind 
in our ears. 

POA 

" Politeness before force." 

Tai 
I have not seen the ring. 

POA 

That is an — ah — inaccuracy. The person has 
seen the jewel on this very hand, flashing in the sun 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 49 

before his greedy eyes — as I walked in the garden. 
Could any one have overlooked the sacred emerald of 
the house of Fang? Of the value of five hundred 
Ming vases all fragile as the v^ings of a moth? His 
statement is v^^orthless. 

Tai 

Yes, my uncle, my esteemed and proud relative, I 
have seen the ring — on my father's finger it was — my 
father — whose estates you will steal to your own ends 
— seen it with my eyes — the eyes of Fang-Tai — my 
father's son. 

PoA 

His guilt has gone to his head. Too bad, too bad. 
" Memory makes dizzy his thought like the perfume of 
some venomous flower." 

Wang 
What proof have you for this monstrous imper- 
tinence ? 

Tai 

" When a bird is to die his note is sad, when a man 
is to die, his words are true." Do you deny that I am 
your nephew. Lord Ting- Fang? 

POA 

Most certainly. My Lord Wang-Mo, do you per- 
mit this man to question whether I know my own 
nephew? Indeed " if the tongue have no fear, words 
are hard to make good." 



50 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Wang 

Consider which way your tongue goes. How can 
you utter such an assertion? 

POA 

" The charioteer of Resolve has lost control of the 
wild team of Fancy." 

Governesses 
(Behind their fans) 
Very pretty — very pretty. 

(PoA smiles indulgen ly.) 

Tai 

{Holding out an amulet that is a string about his neck) 
I have here the perfect duplicate of the sacred amulet 
of the house of Fang, the secret seal of our ancestors, 
given only to the first sons of our house. 

PoA 
Very unlikely. 

Tai 

And any man from our province would know me — 
I can tell you the secret and inmost furnishings of our 
palace — 

POA 

The man must have a whole band of accomplices to 
lie for him. 

Governesses 
" Evil is not hermit. It has ever neighbors." 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 51 

POA 

Exact and just. 

Tai 

Do you deny, Poa-Tfng-Fang, that In the hidden 
corner of your chamber — 

PoA 

Whose word Is to be taken — this vagabond's or 
mine? Are my household gods to be dragged out and 
shamed before the whole countryside — and In the 
mouth of every lying rascal? I have said that he Is a 
thief. My word Is used as carelessly as a lead penny. 
{He rises.) This court shall keep me no longer. I 
will go forth, and say that It Is no court. 

Wang 

My most exalted guest, your word Is as valuable as 
a ruby. Into a court Is sifted both chaff and grain. 
We must winnow all. Be satisfied that the affair will 
be settled here — and take It no further. (PoA seats 
himself. ) 

PoA 
(Sulkily) 
" Long visits make short compliments." 

Wang 

You have an amulet? 

PoA 
Like most gardeners — apes are we all. 



52 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Governesses 
Yes, yes, apes. 

Wang 

Speak slowly — and take heed of your words — 
concerning it. The offense is great. How can you 
prove your assertion here and now? 

Tai 

The amulet is cut so cunningly that it fits into a 
hidden part of the ring of our house. 

PoA 

And the ring is lost! Very neat, very neat. 

Wang 

You testify to your own guilt. 

Tai 
I dare you to find the ring, Poa-Ting-Fang. 

Guard 
He can't do it! He can't do it! 

Wang 

Why not? 

Guard 
{Pointing to Tai-Lo) 
Because he's swallowed it! 

All 
Swallowed it! 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 53 

Tai 

That — that is too absurd ! 

Guard 

( Vindictively ) 
When he knew he was caught — he did it — to hide 
his guilt — 

Tai 

And how do you prove that? 

Guard 

{Significantly) 
There is one way to prove it — quick and sure. 

Wang 

This is most distressing! 

POA 

Most shocking to my delicate sensibilities — 

Guard 

Will you hang him first? My Lord, does such a 
liar deserve it ? 

PoA 
Perhaps the guard is right — and since the man 
claims to exalted ancestry, however knavish his asser- 
tions, that is a more — ah — aristocratic way of — ah 
committing suicide. But, oh, my tender perceptions. 

Wang 

I must complete my duty and the law. 



54 TOLD IN A CHI^IESE GARDEN 

Guard 

{Delightedly producing a knife in one hand and a rope 

in the other) 

Have I your august permission to — 

{The bushes part suddenly and Ll-Tl appears.) 



No! 

My daughter! 



Li-Ti 
{Shrilly) 

Wang 



POA 

My future bride! {He modestly hides his face be- 
hind his fan.) 

Wang 

This is the culmination of unseemliness! Unhappy 
girl! 

Li-Ti 
{Prostrating herself) 
I will walk in obedience all my life. I will be faith- 
ful and light lanterns before all the household gods, 
and obey your slightest eyelid quiver as your most sub- 
servient and unworthy wife, my Lord Ting-Fang, but 
I cannot live and know that such a crime was done in 
my name. 

Wang 
In your name? 

Li-Ti 
Oh, a thousand pardons, most august and best of 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 55 

fathers — ten thousand, O most exalted husband-to-be 
— but I with my miserable eyes had never beheld the 
countenance of my Lord Ting-Fang — and knew that 
he could care naught for one so lowly as I — and I 
found — O, a million apologies, most celestial ones — 
that my unworthy heart was not with him — that it lay 
in the hand of another — and when I heard — from 
all mouths that my Lord Ting-Fang would not have 
me if his ring were not found — I thought only of 
myself in my unhappiness — and I saw the ring where 
it lay fallen in our most unworthy garden, slipped 
from his august finger — and I stole it. 

Wang 
You! 

Li-Ti 
Yes. Cover me with a thousand confusions. Bury 
me forever in the cold cells of the sacred Pagoda. But 
do not harm Tai-Lo. (She holds out her hand.) 
Here it is. 

POA 

{Coming suddenly down from his chair) 
Let me see. 

Tai 
(Forestalling him, and covering the ring with his 
hand) 
No. 

Ling 
{Catching a sleeve of Ll-Tl and pulling her hack) 
Little spider — is this how you reward our teaching! 



56 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Lang 
{Pulling her by the other sleeve) 
" The five worst Infirmities that afflict women 
are—" 

Wang 
Peace. 

Tai 
Behold; my Lord Wang. (He holds the ring and 
his amulet together in his hand.) 

Wang 

Complete. How strange indeed are the Gods! 

Tai 
There will now be time to prove more — 

POA 

{With a majestic wave of his hand) 
My worthy and honorable Lord Wang-Chu-Mu, 
and others that are here, I admit that this person is 
unfortunately my nephew. I admit that I denied him 
before you. I admit that I would rather have my 
tender, high-strung sensibilities racked to their core 
as they would have been by the shedding of my own 
flesh and blood and the thrice regrettable demise of 
my unfortunate nephew than to have the lands of my 
ancestors ravaged and the gods of my household pro- 
faned by falling into the hands of a profligate and a 
waster. But through the interruption of, I may say 
with a blush, your unmaidenly daughter, all this can- 
not be. But the hem of my skirt will be clear of it 
from now on. I resign my lands into the hands of 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 57 

this rascal, preferring that they perish quickly and 
without the open scandal of a lawsuit with such as he. 
And you, Wang-Mu, I congratulate you that you have 
not had the inconvenience of having your daughter re- 
turned to you, as she surely must have been had I seen 
her in my house. I leave her to my nephew. I fear 
they are only too well suited to each other. I have 
the pleasure of bidding you an honorable farewell. 
And try, I beg you, though I fear it will be difficult, to 
remember that ** A gentleman is consistent and change- 
less and a combination of art and nature well blent." 

{He moves off with great dignity, signing to a 
man to follow him with an umbrella. All 
bow.) 

Wang 

Alas ! Like the famous man, ** He wears a mask of 
love but his deeds belie it." 

Ling 
Such a splendid creature ! 

Lang 
Like the full moon his face, with eyebrows like 
swallows' wings — 

Tai 

My uncle has always dignity and discretion. 

Wang 

Completely polite. 

(Poa-TiNG-Fang disappears,) 



58 TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Tai 

May I have the honor of suggesting that I am now 
as my uncle — though undoubtedly somewhat less 
august and complete in my gifts — and stand in the 
most exalted shoes of your son-in-law-to-be? 

Wang 
I will consult the law upon that most desirable 
point. My garden is yours, and my house — and all 
that I have. 

{He goes off slowly, followed by the scribe, 
chair and the others. All bow deeply.) 

Tai 
(To Li-Ti) 
So that was your secret? 

Li-Ti 

{Prostrating herself) 
Oh, most honorable lord, forgive my boldness. 

Tai 

{Lifting her to him) 
You would have sacrificed yourself so no harm 
should come to me. It gives faith to a poor vagabond 
to take up the works of his ancestors again. 

{The bearers come back with Ll-Tl's chair. 
She ascends it.) 

Tai 

I shall remember that the first day I saw you was 
the birthday of a thousand flowers, and each succeeding 
day will be the unfolding of a new petal. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 59 

Li-Ti 
Oh, most honorable one! I will have no more se- 
crets from you — I will tell you all. 

Tai 

In a garden — where there are plenty of bees. {He 
bows. The bearers carry off her chair, LiNG and 
Lang follow.) 

{As the chair reaches the opposite of the pool 
Ll-Tl leans out and throws him a kiss. Tai- 
Lo follows them out slowly, humming the same 
tune as when he first came into the garden.) 



6o TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 
FOR OUTDOOR PRODUCTION 

OF 

TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

Any garden could be used for this play. 

To make it appear Chinese, large flat gray sil- 
houettes, cut to represent the stone lanterns and pagoda 
ornaments so often seen in Chinese gardens could be 
easily made, and placed about. 

It is pretty to have a little walk or vista down which 
the processions can come on entering the garden. The 
bright colored costumes are very effective against the 
green. 

For amateur production, Chinese costumes and prop- 
erties are easy to find, and the coolie costumes can be 
very effective with soft colored smocks and peaked 
straw hats. 

FOR INDOOR PRODUCTION 

A simple scene would be — 

A white wall extends across the back of the stage, 
with a little red door let in on one side, through which 
the characters enter inPto the garden. The top of the 
wall is colored with a band of scarlet, blue and gold 
tiles, and perhaps the curving scarlet tip of a Chinese 
roof shows over the top of the wall against the vivid 
blue sky. The grass in the garden is very bright green, 
with a little pebble path running through it, and prim 
flower beds against the wall, and in the foreground, 
brilliant, stiff flowers. On either side, stunted, Chinese 
pines, in lacquered pots. For ornament, two red lac- 
quered sitting Chinese dogs guarding the door in the 
n^all. 



TOLD IN A CHINESE GARDEN 

NOTES ON COSTUMES AND SCENERY FOR 

AMATEURS 
COSTUMES 

Poa-Ting-Fang and Wang-Chu-Mo as high 
Chinese dignitaries should have long embroidered silk 
coats and skirts. These can usually be borrowed, or 
else rented from any costumer. Their hats can be 
made very effectively of circular rims about four inches 
wide of red cardboard cut to stand out from the face, 
with a gold Chinese character painted in front, and a 
silk tassel hanging over the side from a button on top 
of the crown of the hat, which is made of close-fitting 
black silk or a stocking cap. Their shoes should be 
embroidered Chinese if possible, and they should carry 
black and gold paper Chinese fans. If the embroidered 
costumes are not possible, coats and skirts cut in 
voluminous Chinese pattern from plain bright yellow 
or green or purple silk lining material or even paper 
muslin, and decorated front and back with a dragon or 
Chinese Character design carefully copied from some 
reliable picture, and painted on with black and gold 
can be quite effective. The shoes could be straw 
sandals or leather slippers — but in no case use ordinary 
heeled shoes. The chief point is to have these costumes 
look authentically Chinese as well as picturesque in 
color and outline, and particular care should be taken 
to make the details harmonious no matter how simple 
or how elaborate the costume. 

Li-Ti as a Chinese Great Lady should also have 
elaborately embroidered coat and trousers, but if this 
is not possible, coat and trousers can be cut of plain 
silk in green or yellow or scarlet or blue, and a Chinese 
Dragon or Flower design appliqued in gold or con- 
trasting colors back and front of the jacket. It is very 
simple to make her a gold Chinese headdress by cutting 
the correct design out in cardboard, and gilding it, and 



trimming it with flowers and tassels at each side. But 
if this is found unbecoming or at all cumbersome she 
can wear her hair (which of course must be smooth 
and black) parted in the middle, drawn into coils at 
each side with flowers at the back or over her ears. 
She also must have embroidered Chinese slippers. She 
can wear as much jewelry as is found attractive, but 
it must be in harmony and at least look Chinese even if 
it is not genuinely so. Her make-up must be very 
elaborate with a great deal of care and formality in 
the making. 

Ling-Tai-Tai and Lang-Tai-Tai, the govern- 
esses, can either wear less elaborate embroidered robes 
than Li-Ti, or coats and skirts cut from purple, blue 
or grey silk or cloth. Their headdresses can be cut 
from cardboard also, painted silver and decorated with 
long hanging tassels. These headdresses should be 
copied from some authentic old Chinese picture, other- 
wise they may be ridiculous. 

Pages and Scribe. These can be simply costumed 
in coat and trousers of some bright plain color, with 
heraldric Chinese Dragon or Character design back 
and front. They wear close-fitting black silk caps with 
button on top and a long black queue — which can be 
made of plaited black cloth, and tied at the bottom 
with strings of scarlet and yellow. The smaller the 
Pages are the prettier the effect. They can wear 
colored leather slippers or straw sandals. 

Tai-Lo wears the soft colored long smock-like shirt, 
and roUed-up cotton trousers of a coolie. His hat 
presents the only diflSculty, and that should be a real 
Chinese straw coolie's hat, either hired, or bought in 
Chinatown. It should be somewhat different in shape, 
size, etc., from the hats of the other workers. He has 
the long queue, and either bare feet or straw sandals. 

Coolie Runners, Bearers, etc. These wear soft 
color cotton smocks and trousers and Chinese straw 



hats. These are always very effective and with the 
long black queue are all that is needed to characterize 
the costume. They have bare feet. 

PROPERTIES 

The Parasols are the most effective bit of scenery 
one could have in a garden, but in no case must they 
be confused with Japanese parasols. They must be the 
real Chinese glazed and ribbed umbrellas or the effect 
of all the costuming is spoiled. Chinese parasols, or 
copies, are easy to find or to buy and are always useful 
afterwards. 

The Fans must also be real Chinese, and not con- 
fused with the Japanese more common paper fan which 
will be instantly recognized as wrong by any discerning 
person. Li-Ti should have a peacock feather fan — 
(can be bought very reasonably in Chinatown) and 
the others as carefully chosen authentic fans as possible. 

If Tal-Lo is to carry a basket it must be of real 
Chinese weave. It is very picturesque to have him 
carry two of these as he first enters the garden. They 
can be slung by ropes on the ends of a light bamboo 
pole which he carries over one shoulder. 

Chairs for Court Scene. These must be very 
simple. In one production they were most effective 
made of plain boxes, with straight high boards for 
backs, painted a brilliant lacquer yellow, with black 
Chinese Characters on them and grotesque painted 
Chinese mask heads cut and painted on cardboard for 
their heads. However, unless some real effect like this 
can be achieved, simple boxes, lacquered scarlet or black, 
are far better than the wrong sort of chair. 

The Palanquin is not difficult to make. It can 
be made of a plain chair firmly nailed between two 
strong poles. A light square frame of thin wood 
laths is built over the chair and curtained back, front 



and sides, with Chinese embroideries or silk curtains. 
Li-Ti sits cross-legged on the chair and four bearers 
can carry it easily. It is pretty to have Chinese cornices 
cut from stiff cardboard, lacquered black, scarlet and 
gold and put on the corners. Of course the Palanquin 
is not necessary, but it is very effective. 



THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY. 

The famous comedy in three acts, by Anne Warner. 7 males, 8 
females. Three interior scenes. Costumes modern. Plays 2% hours. 

This is a genuinely funny comedy with splendid parts for "Aunt Mary," 
■Jack," her lively nephew; "Lucinda," a New England, ancient maid of all work; 
'Jack's" three chums; the Girl "jack" loves; "Joshua," Aunt Mary's hired 
man, etc. 

"Aunt Mary" was played by May Robson in New York and on tour for over 
two years, and it is sure to be a big success wherever produced. We strongly 
rcoommend it. Price, 60 Cents 

MRS. BUMSTEAD-LEIGH. 

„A pleasing comedy, in three acts, by Harry James Smith, author of 
The Tailor-Made Man." 6 males, 6 females. One interior scene. Cos- 
tumes modern. Plays 2^ hours. 

Mr. Smith chose foi< his initial comedy the complications arising from the 
endeavors of a social climber to land herself in the altitude peopled by hyphenated 
names— a theme permitting innumerable complications, according to the spirit of 
the writer. 

This most successful comedy was toured for several seasons by Mrs. Fiskc 
with enormous success. ^ Price, 60 Cents. 

MRS. TEMPLE'S TELEGRAM. 

A most successful farce in three acts, by Frank Wyatt and William 
Morris. 5 males, 4 females. One interior scene stands throughout the 
three acts. Costumes modern. Plays 2J^ hours. 

"Mrs. Temple's Telegram" is a sprightly farce in which there is an abund- 
ance of fun without any taint of impropriety or any element of oflFence. As 
noticed by Sir Walter Scott, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we 
practice to deceive!" 

There is not a dull moment in the entire farce, and from the time the curtaini 
rises until it makes the final drop the fun is fast and furious. A very exceptional 
farce. Price, 60 Centsj 

THE NEW CO-ED. 

A coinedy in four acts, by Marie Doran, author of "Tempest and 
Sunshine," etc. Characters^ 4 males, 7 females, though any number of 
boys and girls can be introduced in the action of the play.^ One interior 
and one exterior scene, but can be easily played in one interior scene. 
Costumes modern. Time, about 2 hours. 

The theme of this play is the coming of a new student to the college, her 
reception by the scholars, her trials and final triumph. 

There are three especially good girls' parts, Letty, Madge and Estelle, but 
the others have plenty to do. "Punch" Doolittle and George Washington Watts, 
a gentleman of color, are two particularly good comedy characters. We can 
strongly recommend "The New Co-Ed',' to high schools and amateurs. 

Price, 30 Cents. 

(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced) 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City 

New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

DOROTHY'S N |||ll|||l|ll|l|l|l|l||ll|ll||ilillllllllllllllll ^ 

A u J A ' £ . 018 378 321 A ^ 

A brane new comedy in four acts, _^ „*«x.^ x^uiau, autnor of "T 

New Co-Ed," "Tempest and Sunshine," and many other successf"* play 

4 males, 7 females. The scenes are extremely easy to arrange; two plai; 

interiors and one exterior, a garden, or, if necessary, the two interiors 

will answer. Costumes modern. Plays 2J^ hours. 

The story is about vocational trainimg, a subject now widely discussed; also, 
the distribution of large wealth. 

Back of the comedy situation and snappy dialogue there is good logic an«' 
I sound moral in this pretty play, which is worthy the attention of the experi- 
enced amateur. It is a clean, wholesome play, particularly suited to high school 
production. Price, 30 Cents. 



MISS SOMEBODY ELSE. 

A modern play in four acts by Marion Short, author of "The Touch- 
down," etc. 6 males, 10 females. Two interior scenes. Costumes mod- 
ern. Plays 2%. hours. 

This delightful comedy has gripping dramatic moments, unusual character 
types, a striking and original plot and is essentially modern in theme and treat- 
ment. The story concerns the adventures of Constance Darcy, a multi-million- 
aire's young daughter. Constance embarks on a trip to find a young man who 
had been in her father's employ and had stolen a large sum of money. Sir 
almost succeeds, when suddenly all traces of the young man are lost. At thi 
point she meets some old friends who are living in almost want and, in order 
assist them through motives benevolent, she determines to sink her own aris: 
cratic personality in that of a refined but humble little Irish waitress with tl 
family that are in want. She not only carries her scheme to success in assistinc 
the family, but finds romance and much tense and lively adventure during ihc 
period of her incognito, aside from capturing the young man who had defrai'rlc, 
her father. The story is full of bright comedy lines and dramatic situations m ' 
is highly recommended for amateur production. This is one of the best oorr-.r 
dies we have ever offered with a large number of female characters. The di.iloarr.e 
is brierht and the play is full of action from start to finish; not a dull moment in 
it. This is a great comedy for high schools and colleges, and the wholetom'- 
Story will please the parents and teachers. We strongly recommend it. 

Price, 30 C 



PURPLE AND FINE LINEN. 

An exceptionally pretty comedy of Puritan New England, in three, 
acts, by Amita B. Fairgrieve and Helena Miller. 9 male, 5 female char- 
acters. 

This is the Lend A Hand Smith College prize play. It is an admirable play 
for amateurs, is rich in character portrayal of varied types and is not too difficult 
while thoroughly pleasing. Price, 30 Cent* 

<The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced) 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City 

New and Explicit Descriptive Catalosrue Mailed Free on Request 



